by Brandon Seyl
So, You Want to Commission in the Military? Let’s Explore the Pros and Cons
Are you considering a commission in the military? Maybe a loved one? It’s a decision that comes with its own set of unique challenges and opportunities. Before raising your right hand and taking the oath of office, we will ensure this path is right for you. Photo by Pixabay at pexels.com Pros: 1. Professional Development: The U.S. military is known for discipline, standards, and structure. One of the military's perks is its ability to develop its Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Guardians, and Marines. What most people don’t see is the development of an officer. Officers already possess a bachelor’s degree or higher, so their professional development varies from that of enlisted personnel. Using the Air Force, for example, a new Lieutenant would attend some form of basic professional development upon entry: Air Force Academy, Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), and Officer Training School (OTS). Then, once they reach Captain (4 years), officers become eligible to attend Squadron Officer School (SOS) at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. After SOS, Intermediate Development Education (IDE) and Senior Development Education (SDE) are at later ranks hosted all over the globe and can earn you another free Master’s degree. Let me stress this—this is intentional development in officership. IDE and SDE are year-long assignments with specific assignment outplacements to put your training best to use. Each branch develops officers differently, but the heavy focus remains true. Additionally, each officer has a wide range of career field-specific courses they may attend, coupled with unit budgets that incentivize industry-leading certifications or licenses. Photo by Pixabay at pexels.com Bottom line: From career courses to graduate programs, the military does a fantastic job developing all ranks, but you can expect high-quality training in the officer corps. 2. Potential for Influence: In the words of Uncle Ben, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Military officers are automatically expected to lead upon entry. Sure, there’s some grace period in the early years as you learn to be an officer and understand the mission, but don’t expect that to last. There’s a buzzword in many leadership/self-help books that reminds everyone to focus on their “sphere of influence.” As an officer, your sphere of influence can range from just yourself to hundreds, if not thousands, of people. Maybe that sounds intimidating, but if you do your best and listen to your folks, you can make a HUGE impact on the lives of those who wish to serve. Think about that for a second. If you lead well, you can improve the lives of those who desire to serve. That’s a humbling responsibility I hold dear in my “why” for serving. Photo by Brett Sayles at pexels.com The bottom line is to lead well and build a culture of respect and support that produces better leaders and people. It won’t be easy, but it will be rewarding. 3. Pay: I hate to mention this, but I can’t ignore that it’s a practical and essential aspect of our lives. Officers are paid more than their enlisted teammates because they hold higher levels of responsibility. Between the benefits and pay, you will have peace of mind knowing your family is cared for. Rest assured, you will earn the pay. This is one of the reasons why I’m so adamant about understanding your “why” for commissioning, as the demands sometimes aren’t worth the pay. Link to the latest 2024 pay charts: 2024 Military Pay ChartsMilitary pay will increase 5.2% for 2024, compared to 2023 levels, now that President Joe Biden has signed the new rate…www.military.com 4. Post-Military Opportunities: Commissioning opens doors to diverse career paths outside the military. Referring back to Pro #1, the military invested heavily in your development. The industry knows that your leadership and decision-making skills are valuable, and they want them. Not to mention, as an officer, you have the opportunity to network with many leaders and professionals who can provide valuable connections for your post-military life. 5. Less Likely to do Mundane/Dirty Jobs: Okay, I debated putting this on here, but I’d be lying if it didn’t stick out to me when I compared my enlisted to commissioned experience. As an officer, you are less likely to take the trash out, mop the floor, or perform “dirty” tasks, as you are heavily focused on planning and coordination. No one is cleaning my office or taking the trash out other than me, but there are times when tough jobs are being dished out, and my focus is elsewhere. Photo by Rony Stephen Chowdhury at pexels.com Granted, I don’t want you to understand that there aren’t bad/mundane “officer” details. Trust me, there are lots. Cough, weekly activity reports. Cons: 1. Fierce Competition: Hear me out…there are two ways of looking at this, and I want to ensure you have a realistic perspective. First, there are not many officers in the military, and the # of your peers varies considerably considering your career field. For example, in a support career, only 2–4 officers may be compared to 100+ enlisted members in some units. Everyone wants to perform the job to the best of their ability, but regardless of effort, every officer receives a stratification on their annual evaluation (i.e., #2 Capt out of 4). (1) Great competition = pushing yourself to be better(2) Great competition = you may get beat out on opportunities I listed this as a CON because I have served alongside many great officers who were passed over for promotions or opportunities. It’s a harsh reality, but each became better, led well, and served honorably. Photo by Pixabay at pexels.com If you want to become the best version of yourself and do right by your troops regardless of promotion — ignore this CON and proceed to #2! 2. Higher Expectations: You are leading our nation's sons and daughters in highly stressful situations….expect higher expectations than a typical job. For example, regarding discipline….if Sergeant Snuffy is disciplined for doing “X” and receives “Y” punishment, then you do “X” as well. Trust me, you will face more severe punishment because it’s expected that you know better. Depending on the circumstances, it could severely impact your career. 3. Very Few Peers: Going back to CON #1, there are only a few officers. If you have other officers in your unit, they most likely outrank you (i.e., Commander, Director of Operations, supervisor, etc.). If you haven’t served in the military, it’s a big NO-NO to socialize with enlisted personnel in nonprofessional settings. The term used to describe this is fraternization, and officers can be punished under the Uniformed Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) for crossing the line. Why does this rule exist? It boils down to maintaining good military order and discipline. Despite the rules, life must go on, and it doesn’t change that leading people in highly stressful situations often leaves a desire to have a few friends to vent to. There are a couple of ways to network and build friendships, though! (1) Find officers outside of your unit(2) Social media groups(3) Build professional working relationships 4. Admin Work: Yes, sir/ma’am, expect A LOT of paperwork. The volume of paperwork that you will have to read, comprehend, and regurgitate is impressive. This is a BIG reason most people prefer the enlisted route: they want to work with their hands and perform “work.” Photo by Kindel Media at pexels.com To put things into perspective, as an officer, you will typically see every subordinate's evaluation, decoration, award, disciplinary forms, etc. That’s not even counting the typical day-to-day official correspondence via email. Eventually, you will accept and recognize the value of such admin work and maybe even grow fond of it…. Hmm…maybe. 5. Ultimate Responsibility without Direct Control: Call it unfair or what, but if something happens in your unit, it’s on your watch. Sure, most people won’t see that soldier’s DUI as your direct fault, but you will feel the pain in the form of administrative work, addressing alcoholic problems within your unit, etc. Can it happen? Yes. Will it happen? Most likely. The best thing you can do when it does is own the situation and address it appropriately. 6. Frequent Relocations: Due to budgetary cuts, the Department of Defense has recently reduced officer relocations, otherwise known as Permanent Change of Station (PCS). However, I’m still considering this a CON. Once officers hit the years of command tours, they can be expected to PCS every 2–3 years, which can disrupt their personal and family lives. 7. Social Events: Depending on your tolerance for social events, this may/may not be a con, but officers are expected to attend any social function, such as unit ceremonies, promotions, going aways, etc. You will be noticed if you do not attend. Granted, this is an unwritten rule. In conclusion, deciding whether to be commissioned in the military is a choice that blends personal aspirations with professional ambitions. As you weigh these factors, consider how each point resonates with your long-term goals and values. Remember, while challenges exist, the journey of an Officer can be a rewarding path filled with opportunities for growth and impact. Understand your “why,” stay true to yourself, and lead on! Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this blog post are solely those of the author and do not represent the official views or positions of the Department of Defense or any other organization. The information provided is based on personal research, experience, and perspective. Readers are encouraged to seek additional sources and form opinions on the topics discussed.